Understand the special educational needs of children and young people with emotional, behavioural and social development needs
Table of Contents
Case Study
Anna-Marie is a 13-year-old girl whom Mrs Lee, her teaching assistant, has noticed is becoming withdrawn at school and is not participating in lessons as much as she used to.
The change in behaviour started around the same time Anna-Marie’s mum remarried and they moved in with her stepfamily.
Anna-Marie confides in Mrs Lee one day that she hates the way she looks and always feels self-conscious. Mrs Lee asks her why she feels like this and she says her stepbrothers are making cruel comments about her appearance at home and teasing her about her weight.
Mrs Lee asks her if she’s spoken to her mum about this and she says that she does not want to tell her mum it is upsetting her as her stepdad often joins in with the teasing, and laughs at her brother’s comments.
- If you were Mrs Lee, what advice would you give and what action could you take to help Anna-Marie build her self-esteem?
- If no action was taken, what impact could low self-esteem and negative body image have on Anna-Marie in the future?
It is rare that there is just one way to respond to a scenario or situation, so do not consider that the response you have chosen to this scenario will be judged as right or wrong. Share your scenario with a work colleague and ask them to tell you if they think you have responded appropriately. Ask them to challenge your response if necessary. You do not need to submit this task for assessment unless asked to do so by your tutor.